Team of the Week: Handy spread

There is a handy spread in our famous weekly selection, with no team dominating after a weekend of upsets.

There is a handy spread in our famous weekly selection, with no team dominating after a weekend of upsets.

The Blues and Stormers are the best represented, both with three players in our starting XV.

The Brumbies, Reds and Bulls are next best with two each, while the Chiefs and Western Force make up the numbers.

Our back-up squad have an even bigger spread - the Bulls with three players topping the list.

The Cheetahs, Southern Kings, Brumbies and Crusaders each have two players Bubbling Under, while the Blues, Hurricanes, Force and Reds (one each) make up the numbers.

Not a single player returns from last week.

Team of the Week - Round Nine:

15 - Charles Piutau (Blues):
Showed why he is so highly rated and in demand - both in New Zealand and Tonga, having played for Tonga Under-20 in 2010 and then NZ U20 in their 2011 Junior World Championship winning campaign.Bubbling under: Israel Dagg (Crusaders)

14 - Henry Speight (Brumbies):
This Fijian-born flyer again showed why he is one of the Southern Hemisphere's most dangerous outside backs - not just powerful and lightning-quick off the mark, but also has a deadly right-to-left double step.Bubbling under: Willie le Roux (Cheetahs)

13 - Richard Kahui (Chiefs):
Even in a losing cause he was more than a handful for the Chiefs. Now back to his best after the season-ending shoulder injury which kept him out of the All Blacks last year.Bubbling under: Conrad Smith (Hurricanes)

12 - Jean de Villiers (Stormers):
There is plenty of life left in the Springbok captain's 'ageing' legs. He is certainly silencing the critics who feel he doesn't deserve his place in the national team.Bubbling under: Jan Serfontein (Bulls)

11 - Rene Ranger (Blues):
After a successful run at outside centre this season, he moved seamlessly to the wing. His 'versatility' could be handy for the All Blacks.Bubbling under: Ronnie Cooke (Southern Kings)

10 - Quade Cooper (Reds):
Talk about making a statement! A day after he was left out of the Wallaby squad he produced his best performance of the year. Maybe it was a clever move by Robbie Deans?Bubbling under: Demetri Catrakilis (Southern Kings)

9 - Will Genia (Reds):
His return from injury and improved performances may have a lot to do with Cooper's dramatically improved form.Bubbling under: Jano Vermaak (Bulls)

8 - Richard Brown (Western Force):
He has been a mainstay of the Western Force's back row over the past seven years and shone in their big upset win.Bubbling under: Pierre Spies (Bulls)

7 - George Smith (Brumbies):
It is easy to see why the Brumbies are so desperate to hold onto him beyond next's scheduled return date to Japan.Bubbling under: Liam Gill (Reds)

6 - Steven Luatua (Blues):
The versatile forward - he can play in the second and back row - has been punted as the replacement for Jerome Kaino (now in Japan) and he is doing a fine job.Bubbling under: Jordan Smiler (Brumbies)

5 - Andries Bekker (Stormers):
He may not be the most consistent and still spends too much time in the outfield, but when Bekker turns it on he is South Africa's best No.5 lock.Bubbling under: Ali Williams (Blues)

4 - Flip van der Merwe (Bulls):
Not everybody's cup of tea, but now that he has sorted out his on-field discipline he has become invaluable to the Bulls' cause.Bubbling under: Luke Romano (Crusaders)

3 - Frans Malherbe (Stormers):
He had probably his best performance of the season against a badly out-of-form Springbok Tendai Mtawarira.Bubbling under: Dan Palmer (Brumbies)

2 - Chiliboy Ralepelle (Bulls):
He may have his critics, but Ralepelle keeps reminding us of his credentials as an quality international player.Bubbling under: Ged Robinson (Western Force)

1 - Ben Franks (Hurricanes):
He had to pass a late fitness test, but still made a gallant effort at getting the Hurricanes over the line. He could have done with a bit more support from some of his teammates.Bubbling under: Trevor Nyakane (Cheetahs)